Germany seeks €400 billion cut to EU multiannual budget proposal

Berlin is demanding a €400 billion reduction in the European Commission’s €2 trillion seven‑year budget plan, calling the current proposal “unbearably expensive.” The German government warned that an agreement would be impossible unless the figures are revised. The cut would still leave the budget about 27 % larger than the current program, with Germany’s annual contribution exceeding €50 billion, making it the EU’s biggest net contributor. Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged EU members to reach a deal this year so the budget can take effect in January 2028, ahead of elections in France, Poland and Italy in 2027.